First-time travelling to China? Here, recent first-timer, Jaime Lyth answers all your questions about experiencing the Sleeping Giant Planning a trip to China can seem daunting at first, it’s a huge country that’s existed for five millennia. Global tourists have been flocking to China since the government began unrolling new tourism incentives in the past year, including an expanded visa-free policy (which sadly does not include New Zealand, yet). There are several ways you can prepare yourself as a first-time traveller in China, here’s what you should know before you go.
READ MORE: First-timer’s guide to picking a good restaurant overseas Is China cheap to visit? In general, most things in China are more affordable than in New Zealand. This means you can be pretty strategic when you pack and save room knowing you’ll be able to buy most things for cheaper while you’re in China. Flights to China are pretty reasonable with several airlines reopening travel options post-pandemic.
Depending on when you’d like to travel, prices for economy flights at the moment vary between $700 to $1300 for round trips from Auckland to a major city like Shanghai. Your biggest expense will likely be accommodation or guided tours, depending on your travel plans. Food and snacks are cheap and easy to come by, and convenience stores provide a wide range of affordable items.
For example, I managed to buy two beers, a power bank and a pair of socks for the equivalent of $20 NZD. Beer is i.